Dispensing apparatus



. June 20, 1939;] I 2,163,081,

DI SPEN S ING APPARATUS Filed April 27, 1938 Patented June 20, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DISPENSING APPARATUS George A. Blake, New Bedford, Mass. Application April 27, 1938, Serial No. 204,670

7 Claims.

This invention relates to dispensing devices and more particularly to devices of this character which are adapted to deliver articles or packages of merchandise, such, for example, as candy, chewing gum, cigarettes, or other goods which are customarily enclosed in packages or cartons of a size adapted to be conveniently handled by such a device.

The general object of the invention is the pro- 'vision of a dispensing device adapted for manual actuation and which is of a simple and improved construction and may be economically manufactured.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a device of this type, including means for preventing unauthorized operation or other tampering with the device.

Another object is the provision of. a device of the kind in question, which may be adapted for dispensing a wide variety of packaged articles.

Another object is to provide a dispensing device which is adapted to be operated from the rear by a clerk or salesman so as to eject or deliver an article or package from the front of the device onto the counter or into the customers hands, whereby the operating means are not readily or conveniently accessible to the customer. In this way the vendor has control over the dispensing of the goods and losses due to unauthorized operation of the machine, and theft of the contents thereof are minimized.

A further object is the provision of a machine of this type which comprises a cabinet within one portion of which a supply of superposed articles or packages of merchandise is adapted to be displayed and into a lower portion of which is adapted to be installed a dispensing mechanism for successively ejecting the articles from the bottom of, the pile.

Another object is the provision of a dispensing device having a chute within which are supported the articles to be dispensed, means for withdrawing an article from the chute and depositing it upon a delivery shelf, and means for moving the article forward on the delivery shelf so as to be accessible to a customer.

A further object is the provision of a device of the kind in question, having a protective hood preventing unauthorized access to the supply of articles within the chute.

A further object is the provision of a dispensing device in which the ejecting mechanism itself serves to support'a supply of articles within a chute, and to remove said articles one by one from said chute while simultaneously supporting the remaining articles in the chute.

Other and further objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection' with the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a dispensing device constructed according to the present invention, a portion of one side thereof being broken away to illustrate the interior mechanism;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the device of Figure l with its near side member removed;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary rear perspective of the device of Figures 1 and 2, illustrating one of the locking devices employed therewith;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary detail showing the method of mounting the actuating lever of the device of the present invention; and

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 2 but illustrating a modified form of the device.

In order to facilitate an understanding of. the invention, reference is made to the embodiments thereof shown in the accompanying drawing and detailed description language is employed.

It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the invention is thereby intended and that various changes and alterations are contemplated such as would ordinarily occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the dispensing device of the present invention includes a casing comprising a base member II], a pair of parallel side members II and I2 secured to and extending vertically from opposite sides of said base member III, a transparent front panel I3 secured to and extending between the forward edges of said side members, and a curved, downwardly extending hood I4, likewise secured to and extending between the forward edges of said side members immediately below said transparent panel I3. The base I0, side members II and I2, and hood I4 may be of any suitable material such as sheet metal, wood, or composition. The transparent panel I3 is preferably of glass.

An elongated rectangular member I5 extends along the forward edge of the base member Ill, and extends upwardly a suitable distance to provide, with the lower edge of the hood I4, a delivery opening of the desired dimensions, the upper surface I6 of the member I5 serving as a delivery shelf.

The side members II and I2 are provided, at a suitable distance rearwardly of their forward edges, with inwardly projecting, vertically disposed flanges Il and I8 respectively, which, with the side members II and I2 and front panel I3, comprise a chute for the reception of a supply of the articles to be dispensed, which latter suitable surface with its front facing toward the customer.

An ejector 20, of a length approximating the distance between the side members II' and I2, extends across the device immediately beneath the chute formed by the side members II and I2, fianges I1 and I8, and front panel I3. The ejector 20 is provided at its respective ends with trunnions 2| which are suitably journalled in the respective side members II and I2. The ejector 29 is thus capable of a rocking movement about an axis extending through the trunnions 2I.

The ejector 20 is of a rather unusual shape providing a normally horizontal surface 22 for supporting the articles I9, an upstanding projection 23 disposed rearwardly of the horizontal surface 22, and a horizontal projection 24 extending forwardly just above the delivery shelf IS. The ejector 20 is also provided with a horizontal, rearwardly extending portion 25 from which depends a vertical skirt-like portion 26. The projection 23 is preferably formed with a parti-cylindrical rearward surface 21 having its ,center at the axis of the ejector so that, when the ejector is rocked forwardly to remove the lowest article I9 from the chute, the remaining articles in the chute are supported at a constant level by the surface 21, until the ejector is returned to its initial position, at which time the articles will descend by gravity until the lowermost article rests upon the horizontal surface 22 of the ejector.

The ejector 20 is connected by a link 28 with the forward end of a lever 29 supported on a standard 30.

Referring to Figure 4., it will be seen that the standard 39 is provided with a stud 3| on which the lever 29 is loosely journalled, thereby permitting a limited rocking movement of the le-, ver 29 with respect to the stud 3|. The lever 29 is normally urged into a position against and parallel to the face of the standard 3|] by means of a spring 32, which is under compression between the lever- 29' and a head 33 formed on the stud 3|. Secured to the base I rearwardly of the standard 39 there is provided a post 34, the upper end of which is adapted to support the lever 29 when the latter is in its inoperative position. The post 34 is also provided with an inclined shoulder 35 adapted to serve as a stop limiting the downward movement of the lever 29, it being understood that the shoulder 35 is so formed and disposed as to permit just the requisite movement of the lever 29 in order to actuate the ejector mechanism.

The several movable elements are normally held in initial position by a coil spring 36 secured between the fixed member I and the skirt 26 of the ejector. A stop 31, which may conveniently take the form of a strip of suitable width, extending across the base I9 immediately behind the member I5, limits the counterclockwise movement of the ejector 29 and defines-its normal or initial position.

As illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, means are provided for locking the ejector 20, such means consisting of a pivoted latch bar 38 which may be manually rotated into and out of the position illustrated in Figure 3, in which it serves to hold the depending skirt 26 of the ejector 20 firmly against the stop 31. V i

In the operation of the device described above,

and assuming the latch bar' 38 to be in nonlocking position, as illustrated in Figure 2, in order to dispense an article the clerk or operator will grasp the lever 29, rock it sideways, to clear the top of the post 34, and depress it until the shoulder 35 of the post 34 is encountered. By this movement of the lever 29 the ejector 29 is caused to rock clockwise or forwardly against the tension of the spring 36 into the dotted line position illustrated in Figure 2. The lowermost article I9 is thus moved forwardly and tilted off the horizontal portion 22 of the ejector 20, whence it falls by gravity onto the delivery shelf I6. The lever 29 is then released, and the ejector 20 is rocked counterclockwise or rearwardly by the spring 36. As a result of this movement the horizontal projection 24 of the ejector encounters the article I9 on the delivery shelf I6 and moves it forwardly, ejecting it through the delivery opening beneath the hood I4, as illustrated in Figure 2. As the lower edge of the lever 29 comes opposite the top of the post 34, the spring 32 forces the lever sideways so that it will rest upon the top of the post 34 as described above. Thus it will be apparent that the device cannot be actuated by applying a rearwardly acting force upon the projection 24 of the ejector, since the lever 29 cannot move downwardly until it is first rocked sideways to clear the top of the post 34. It is also apparent that by reason of the provision of the hood I4, it will be impossible for unauthorized persons to abstract an article I9 from the bottom of the chute by the use of implements of any kind. When the device is to be left unattended, an additional safeguard is provided in the latch bar 38 which may be turned so as to securely lock the ejector 29 against any movement.

In the modified device illustrated in Figure 5, the articles I9 are adapted to be supported by a fixed horizontal shelf comprising two members 49 secured to and extending inwardly from the respective side members II and I2 and spaced apart to form a slot between their respective inner ends. In this case, the ejector M is shaped somewhat differently from that of the device of Figures 1 to 4, having no horizontal shelf-like portion, corresponding to the surface 22, and having only a narrow vertical projection 42, adapted to move through the slot between the inner ends of the members 40. As in the case 'of the ejector 29, however, the ejector M is provided with a horizontal projection 24' and a depending skirt 26' which function in the manner previously described. For the remainder, the device of Figure 5 is identical with that of Figures 1 to 4, and its mode of operation is likewise the same except that, in the device of Figure 5, the

lowest article I9 will be pushed off the shelf 7 members 49 by the projection 42 of the ejector 4|, instead of being tilted oil the fiat surface of the ejector as in the previous case.

It will be apparent that if the device is to be employed to dispense cylindrical articles such as packages of mints and the like, the member I5 may be formed with an inclined upper surface to permit such articles to roll forwardly and off of the delivery shelf, in which case the projection 24 (or 24' as the case may be) may be dispensed with.

From the foregoing description, it is apparent that the device of the present invention possesses extreme simplicity of construction and operation, and can be manufactured conveniently and economically. The device may obviously be varied in size and shape to accommodate a wide variety of packaged articles, and likewise possesses the other advantages set forth in the objects enumerated in the foregoing specification.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secure-d by Letters Patent is:

1. In a dispensing device for articles of merchandise, a vertical chute adapted to contain a supply of articles to be dispensed, horizontally disposed means for supporting said articles in said chute, a delivery shelf disposed downwardly and forwardly of the lower end of said chute, a member pivoted adjacent the lower end of said chute and having a projection adapted to en.- gage the lowermost article in said chute and remove it therefrom when said member is rocked forwardly, whereby said article is deposited on said delivery shelf, said member having a sec- 0nd projection adapted to engage said article and move it forwardly on said delivery shelf when said member is returned to starting position, and means for rocking said pivoted member.

2. In a dispensing device for articles of merchandise, a vertical chute adapted to contain a supply of articles to be dispensed, horizontally disposed means for supporting said articles in said chute, a delivery shelf disposed downwardly and forwardly of the lower end of said chute, a member pivoted adjacent the lower end of said chute and having a projection adapted to engage the lowermost article in said chute and remove it therefrom when said member is rocked forwardly, whereby said article is deposited on said delivery shelf, said member having a second projection adapted to engage said article and move it forwardly on said delivery shelf when said member is returned to starting position, manually operated means for rocking said pivoted member forwardly, and yielding means opposing said motion of said pivoted member.

3. In a dispensing device for articles of merchandise, a vertical chute adapted to contain a supply of articles to be dispensed, horizontally disposed means for supporting said articles in said chute, a delivery shelf disposed downwardly and forwardly of the lower end of said chute, a hood extending downwardly and forwardly from the lower end of said chute and adapted to prevent access to said chute from the front of said device, a member pivoted adjacent the lower end of said chute and having a projection adapted to engage the lowermost article in said chute and remove it therefrom when said member is rocked forwardly, whereby said article is deposited on said delivery shelf, said member having a second projection adapted to engage said article and move it forwardly on said delivery shelf when said member is returned to starting position, and means for rocking said pivoted member.

4. In a dispensing device for articles of merchandise, a vertical chute adapted to contain a supply of articles to be dispensed, horizontally disposed means for supporting said articles in said chute, a delivery shelf disposed downwardly and forwardly of the lower end of said chute, a member pivoted adjacent the lower end of said chute and having a projection adapted to engage the lowermost article in said chute and remove it therefrom when said member is rocked forwardly, whereby said article is deposited on said delivery shelf, said member having a second projection adapted to engage said article and move it forwardly on said delivery shelf when said member is returned to starting position, means for rocking said pivoted member, and means engageable with said last named means for preventing actuation thereof by manipulation of said pivoted member.

5. In a dispensing device for articles of merchandise, a vertical chute adapted to contain a supply of articles to be dispensed, a slotted shelf disposed at the lower end of said chute for supporting said articles therein, a member pivoted adjacent the lower end of said chute and adapted to rock through said slot in said shelf, a delivery shelf disposed downwardly and forwardly of the lower end of said chute, a hood extending downwardly and forwardly from the lower end of said chute and adapted to prevent access to said chute from the front of said device, and means for rocking said pivoted member to engage the lowermost article in said chute and remove it therefrom, whereby said article is deposited on said delivery shelf, said pivoted member having a projection adapted to engage said article on said delivery shelf and move it forwardly thereon when said pivoted member is returned to starting position.

6. In a dispensing device forarticles of merchandise, a vertical chute adapted to contain a supply of articles to be dispensed, a slotted shelf disposed at the lower end of said chute for supporting said articles therein, a member pivoted adjacent the lower end of said chute and adapted to rock through said slot in said shelf, a delivery shelf disposed downwardly and forwardly of the lower end of said chute, a hood extending downwardly and forwardly from the lower end of said chute and adapted to prevent access to said chute from the front of said device, and means for rocking said pivoted member to engage the lowermost article in said chute and remove it therefrom, whereby said article is deposited on said delivery shelf, said pivoted member having a projection adapted to engage said article on said delivery shelf and move it forwardly thereon when said pivoted member is returned to starting position, and yielding means opposing said movement of said pivoted member.

7. In a dispensing device for articles of merchandise, a vertical chute adapted to contain a supply of articles to be dispensed, a slotted shelf disposed at the lower end of said chute for supporting said articles therein, a member pivoted adjacent the lower end of said chute and adapted to rock through said slot in said shelf, a delivery shelf disposed downwardly and forwardly of the lower end of said chute, a hood extending downwardly and forwardly from the lower end of said chute and adapted to prevent access to said chute from the front of said device, means for rocking said pivoted member to engage the lowermost article in said chute and remove it therefrom, whereby said article is deposited on said delivery shelf, and means engaging said last named means for preventing actuation thereof by manipulation of said pivoted member.

GEORGE A. BLAKE. 

